Canberra [Australia], December 10 (ANI): Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Wednesday that the social media ban for children under 16 is now officially in place, making Australia the first country in the world to “give it a crack.” He said the move aims to ease the challenges faced by parents and protect children from the growing pressures of the digital world.
Highlighting the changing landscape of childhood, Albanese said the ban offers greater peace of mind to families and allows young people to experience life without the influence of constant online feeds. “Across Australia, those under 16 are starting their day a little differently — without social media. It’s a big change and we’re the first country in the world to give it a crack. But it really matters,” he said.
“Algorithms, endless feeds, and pressures no generation before has had to deal with — today’s change is about supporting you to keep your children safe online. Putting the responsibility right where it belongs, on the social media giants, not on parents,” he added. “By banning social media for those under 16, we’re giving children a childhood and parents more peace of mind.”
In another video message, the Prime Minister said, “This is the day when Australian families are taking back power from these big tech companies and asserting the right of kids to be kids, and for parents to have greater peace of mind.”
According to UNICEF Australia, as of December 10, anyone under 16 in the country will no longer be able to make or maintain accounts on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and others.
The rule does not penalize young people or families but places full responsibility on the platforms, which could face fines of up to about USD 50 million if they fail to comply.
The move follows the passage of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 on November 28 last year. The law sets a mandatory minimum age of 16 for accounts on designated social media platforms, and parents cannot provide consent for younger users.
UNICEF Australia said the ban aims to safeguard the mental health and well-being of children and teens from risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content, and online predators, which the government believes outweigh any benefits.
Applications such as Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom, and YouTube Kids are not expected to be included in the ban. (ANI)
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